White clergymen urge local Negroes to withdraw from demonstrations

White clergymen urge local Negroes
to withdraw from demonstrations
Leading Protestant. Catholic
and Jewish clerics Friday called
on local Negro citizens to with-
draw support of racial demonstra-
tions and unite for a peaceful Bir-
mingham,
In a prepared statement the
clergy praised the manner in
which the 10 days of demonstrations, have been handled by the
Birmingham Police Department.
The same clergymen were
among others who recently issued
"An Appeal for Law and Order
and Common Sense" in dealing
with racial problems in Alabama.
SATURDAY'S STATEMENT
was signed by C. C. J. Carpenter,
Episcopal Bishop of Alabama;
Joseph A. Durick, auxiliary bishop,
Catholic Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham; Rabbi Milton Grafman
Temple Emanu-El; Bishop Paul
Hardin, Bishop of the Alabama-
West Florida Conference of the
Methodist Church; Bishop Nolan
B. Harmon, Bishop of the North
Alabama Conference-of the Meth-
odist Church; George M. Murray,
Bishop Coadjutor, Episcopal Dio-
cese of Alabama; Edward V.
Ramage, moderator, Synod of the
Alabama Presbyterian Church in
the United States, and the Rev.
Earl Stallings, pastor, First Bap-
tist Church of Birmingham.
The text of the statement fol-
lows:
''WE THE UNDERSIGNED
clergymen are among those who,
in January, issued "An Appeal'
for Law and Order and Common'
Sense" in dealing with racial
problems in Alabama. We ex-
pressed understanding: that hon-
est convictions in racial matters
could properly be pursued in the
courts, but urged that decisions
of those courts should in the mean-
time be peacefully obeyed.
"Since that time there had been
some evidence of increased for-
bearance and a willingness to face
facts. Responsible citizens have
undertaken to work on various
problems, which cause racial friction and unrest.
"In Birmingham recent public
events have given indication that
we all have opportunity for a new
constructive and realistic ap-
proach to racial problems.
"However, we are now confront-
ed by a series of demonstrations
by some of our Negro citizens,
directed and led in part by outsiders. We recognize the natural
impatience of people who feel that
their hopes are slow in being
realized. But we are convinced
that these demonstrations are un-
wise and untimely.
"We agree rather with certain
local Negro leadership which has
called for honest and open nego-
tiation of racial issues in our
area.
"And we believe this kind of
facing of issues can best be ac-
complished by citizens of our own
metropolitan area, white-and Ne-
gro, meeting with their knowledge
and experience of the local situa-
tion. All of us need to face that
responsibility and find proper
channels, for its accomplishment.
"Just as we formerly pointed
out that 'hatred and violence have
no sanction in our religion and
political traditions, we also point
out that such actions as incite
hatred and violence, however
technically peaceful those actions
may be, have not contributed to
the resolution or our local prob-
lems.
"We do not believe that these
days of new hope are' days when
extreme measures are justified in
Birmingham.
"We commend the community
as a whole, and the local news
media and law enforcement of-
ficials in particular, on the calm
manner in which these demonstrations have been handled.
"We urge the public to continue
to show restraint should the dem-
onstrations continue, and the law
enforcement officials to remain
calm and continue to protect our
city from violence.
"We further strongly urge our
own Negro community to with-
draw support from these demon-
strations, and to unite locally in
working peacefully for a better
Birmingham.
"When rights are consistently
denied, a cause should be pressed
in the courts and negotiations
among local leaders,and not in
the streets.
"We appeal to both our white
and Negro citizenry to observe
the principles of law and order
and common sense."

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White clergymen urge local Negroes
to withdraw from demonstrations
Leading Protestant. Catholic
and Jewish clerics Friday called
on local Negro citizens to with-
draw support of racial demonstra-
tions and unite for a peaceful Bir-
mingham,
In a prepared statement the
clergy praised the manner in
which the 10 days of demonstrations, have been handled by the
Birmingham Police Department.
The same clergymen were
among others who recently issued
"An Appeal for Law and Order
and Common Sense" in dealing
with racial problems in Alabama.
SATURDAY'S STATEMENT
was signed by C. C. J. Carpenter,
Episcopal Bishop of Alabama;
Joseph A. Durick, auxiliary bishop,
Catholic Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham; Rabbi Milton Grafman
Temple Emanu-El; Bishop Paul
Hardin, Bishop of the Alabama-
West Florida Conference of the
Methodist Church; Bishop Nolan
B. Harmon, Bishop of the North
Alabama Conference-of the Meth-
odist Church; George M. Murray,
Bishop Coadjutor, Episcopal Dio-
cese of Alabama; Edward V.
Ramage, moderator, Synod of the
Alabama Presbyterian Church in
the United States, and the Rev.
Earl Stallings, pastor, First Bap-
tist Church of Birmingham.
The text of the statement fol-
lows:
''WE THE UNDERSIGNED
clergymen are among those who,
in January, issued "An Appeal'
for Law and Order and Common'
Sense" in dealing with racial
problems in Alabama. We ex-
pressed understanding: that hon-
est convictions in racial matters
could properly be pursued in the
courts, but urged that decisions
of those courts should in the mean-
time be peacefully obeyed.
"Since that time there had been
some evidence of increased for-
bearance and a willingness to face
facts. Responsible citizens have
undertaken to work on various
problems, which cause racial friction and unrest.
"In Birmingham recent public
events have given indication that
we all have opportunity for a new
constructive and realistic ap-
proach to racial problems.
"However, we are now confront-
ed by a series of demonstrations
by some of our Negro citizens,
directed and led in part by outsiders. We recognize the natural
impatience of people who feel that
their hopes are slow in being
realized. But we are convinced
that these demonstrations are un-
wise and untimely.
"We agree rather with certain
local Negro leadership which has
called for honest and open nego-
tiation of racial issues in our
area.
"And we believe this kind of
facing of issues can best be ac-
complished by citizens of our own
metropolitan area, white-and Ne-
gro, meeting with their knowledge
and experience of the local situa-
tion. All of us need to face that
responsibility and find proper
channels, for its accomplishment.
"Just as we formerly pointed
out that 'hatred and violence have
no sanction in our religion and
political traditions, we also point
out that such actions as incite
hatred and violence, however
technically peaceful those actions
may be, have not contributed to
the resolution or our local prob-
lems.
"We do not believe that these
days of new hope are' days when
extreme measures are justified in
Birmingham.
"We commend the community
as a whole, and the local news
media and law enforcement of-
ficials in particular, on the calm
manner in which these demonstrations have been handled.
"We urge the public to continue
to show restraint should the dem-
onstrations continue, and the law
enforcement officials to remain
calm and continue to protect our
city from violence.
"We further strongly urge our
own Negro community to with-
draw support from these demon-
strations, and to unite locally in
working peacefully for a better
Birmingham.
"When rights are consistently
denied, a cause should be pressed
in the courts and negotiations
among local leaders,and not in
the streets.
"We appeal to both our white
and Negro citizenry to observe
the principles of law and order
and common sense."